Ferrari officially announces its crews for taking on the 2023 season in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in the 499P that was officially presented at the Finali Mondiali in Imola. The drivers chosen to bring the Prancing Horse back to the top class of the world championship represent a unique mix of talent and experience, speed and stamina, essential qualities in endurance racing.
499P number 50. Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen are the three drivers set to take turns in the car that proudly bears the number 50, chosen to mark the years that have passed by since Ferrari last raced in the top class of the endurance world championship.
Italian Antonio Fuoco, born in 1996, is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most talented drivers on the endurance racing scene and, together with Spaniard Miguel Molina, won the 8 Hours of Bahrain, playing a decisive role in winning the Manufacturers’ World Championship title with a great season finale.
Molina, born in 1989 and European Le Mans Series champion in 2021, brings experience and determination to the crew.
Danish driver Nicklas Nielsen, born in 1997, after becoming World Champion in the LMP2 Pro-Am class, completes a unique journey that has featured the Ferrari Challenge as an extraordinary accelerating element and has seen him win at least one continental or world championship title without interruption since 2018, always at the wheel of Prancing Horse cars.
499P number 51. Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi make up the crew that will share the work of racing the car bearing the number 51, one of the most successful in Ferrari history. After becoming World Champions for the second time in a row (the third in their careers) in the LMGTE Pro class, Italy’s Alessandro Pier Guidi, born in 1983, and Britain’s James Calado, born in 1989, will take on the challenge of earning the winners’ laurel in the top class together.
This partnership, now in its sixth season in the world championship, can boast a unique list of triumphs: no one before them has been crowned champion twice in a row in the LMGTE Pro class and no crew has won three laurels (2017, 2021, 2022).
The numbers of the British-Italian pairing over seven seasons in the WEC represent an unmistakable calling card: 11 wins and 23 podiums from 39 starts. The pair of world champions can count on the speed of Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, born in 1993, who is competing full-time in the endurance world championship for the first time after his experience at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018, where he made his presence felt. With Scuderia Ferrari since 2017, Giovinazzi will continue as a reserve driver in 2023.
Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari GT Sporting Activities: “With the choice of crews, we have completed the last step of the programme ahead of our debut at Sebring. Since the 499P’s first shakedown in July, we have worked non-stop involving the drivers of the Ferrari family. The decision regarding our chosen drivers relates not only to the races we will contest, but also to the growth that will continue during the championship. We are very clear about what we can ask of them concerning development and consistency, not just speed”.
Learn more about the Ferrari 499P in the World Endurance Championship